Spectacle and surprise at ACMs, as Aldean repeats and Miranda makes history
LAS VEGAS — Jason Aldean extended his reign Sunday night as the Academy of Country Music's top entertainer, while Miranda Lambert made history with a record-breaking eighth Female Vocalist of the Year win on a night of spectacle and surprise in Las Vegas.
“I can’t even believe I can say that,” Lambert said of breaking Reba's McEntire’s longstanding record in the category. “I’m really so thrilled that I can still help lead the charge for women in this business at any level, songwriters, anybody behind the scenes, managers, whatever it is. I’m just thrilled I can keep pushing forward and making a way for other women to do the same thing. I’m really humbled by it.”
Lambert also picked up her fifth Album of the Year win with her double album “The Weight of These Wings."
Thomas Rhett, another of the evening's top winners, was left virtually speechless after accepting awards for Song of the Year with “Die a Happy Man” and Male Vocalist of the Year.
“I don’t have a whole lot of words except for everyone in this category are my idols,” Rhett said after receiving the second award. “Everyone in this category shaped the artist that I am. I try and be the best singer I can. This is a very humbling, humbling experience.”
The 52nd ACM Awards were again co-hostedhttp://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/04/02/acm-awards-2017-chuck-berry-tribute-and-keith-urban-jokes/99965308/ by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley — this time from Las Vegas’ new T-Mobile Arena, which allowed for larger stages and an even bigger audience. The singers incorporated many of Sin City’s most famous attractions into the show’s opening, joking about fishing in the Bellagio Resort and Casino’s famed pool and fountains and joining the cast of male revue show Thunder From Down Under.
“They told me I had a shot but I couldn’t join because I’m not from Australia,” Bryan quipped, adding they told him the show had a pair of chaps reserved for ACM top-nominee Keith Urban.
Stripper jokes aside, it was country music family affair at the top of the show, with an intro that included a medley featuring all the nominees for Entertainer of the Year: Bryan, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line.
It was the first of three performances over the three-hour show for top nominee Urban who later wowed with a soulful version of his twice-nominated “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Through tempo and artful guitar work, Urban nimbly sewed his last No. 1 into his current single, “The Fighter” for a fun and flirty performance with duo partner and new label mate Carrie Underwood.
Duos and collaborations were a theme of the evening. Bentley joined Cole Swindell for a version of their fast-paced duet “Flatliner.” Rhett and Maren Morris introduced television audiences to their sexy new duet “Craving You” that was just released Friday. Morris, who was previously named New Female Vocalist of the Year, vocally soared through her vulnerable new single “I Could Use a Love Song.” McEntire and Christian music star Lauren Daigle performed the single “Back to God.” And Brett Eldredge sparked a collaboration of a different kind, incorporating the cast of Las Vegas’ critically acclaimed acro-cabaret variety show “Absinthe” into his performance of “Somethin’ I’m Good At.”
Lambert didn’t have a band much less a duo partner when she backed herself on acoustic guitar for brave and emotional performance of “Tin Man” that was easily one of night’s best.
Lady Antebellum made a triumphant return to the ACM Awards with a full-stage performance of its new single “You Look Good” that included 60 horn players stretched across the stage. When Little Big Town was named ACM Vocal Group of the Year for the fourth time, all they could do was gush about their competition.
“I just want to be in Lady Antebellum’s band,” said Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman.
“Me, too, that was electric in the house,” added the group’s Karen Fairchild.
Eight awards and 23 performances filled the three-hour telecast. Florida Georgia Line, who closed out the show with a raucous collaboration with the Backstreet Boys, and Brothers Osborne were also multiple winners. The evening’s largest award-winning collaboration was the Country Music Association’s win in the Video of the Year category for its “Forever Country” that incorporated generations of country singers to honor its 50th CMA Awards. To create the song, Shane McAnally created a mashup of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” The video that featured artists ranging from Charley Pride and Dolly Parton to Brad Paisley was directed by Joseph Kahn.
"As a member of the CMA board we’re so happy to celebrate country music," said Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild, who thanked the ACMs for continuing to honor country music.
The full list of winners
Entertainer of the Year: Jason Aldean
Male Vocalist of the Year: Thomas Rhett
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborne
Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town
Album of the Year: "The Weight of These Wings," Miranda Lambert; Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records
Songwriter of the Year: Lori McKenna
New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year: Brothers Osborne
New Female Vocalist of the Year: Maren Morris
New Male Vocalist of the Year: Jon Pardi
Single Record of the Year: Florida Georgia Line, "H.O.L.Y." Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
Vocal Event of the Year: Florida Georgia Line featuring Tim McGraw, "May We All;" Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
Song of the Year: "Die a Happy Man," Thomas Rhett; Songwriters: Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI), Cricket On The Line (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Eastman Pond Publishing (BMI), Music of Big Deal (BMI), Nice Life (BMI), Frederic And Reid Music (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Brodsky Spensive Publishing (BMI)
Video of the Year: "Forever Country," Artists of Then, Now and Forever; Director: Joseph Kahn; Producers: Nathan de la Rionda, Jil Hardin, Charleen Manca, Joanna Carter, Chandra LaPlume, Sarah Trahern, Damon Whiteside
Juli Thanki contributed.